Norwich quartet Takeda may have emerged from the most unlikely of origins, but on 'Reynardine', they prove that sometimes the most authentic art comes from the most difficult places.
The new single serves as both a calling card and album announcement for their debut 'In Venus' Train', arriving September 17th via Drongo Records. Built around band leader Josh Harrison's intricate fingerpicked guitar work and elegant production from David Pye (Szun Waves, Trudy & the Romance, Faithless, Dido), 'Reynardine' unfolds like an ancient story told through a modern lens – which, given its roots in English folklore, is exactly what it is.
What starts as delicate acoustic interplay gradually swells into something altogether more powerful. Driving drums from Charlie Wilson and David Woodgett's subtle bass work provide the foundation for a track that knows exactly when to hold back and when to let loose. By the four-minute mark, those gentle opening textures are overwhelmed by fuzzy, distorted tones in a climax that feels both inevitable and surprising.
Harrison's vocals thread the needle between fragility and strength, carrying the weight of the song's central theme. "This song is about the hidden person within, who acts unseen and often undetected until it's too late," Harrison explains. It's a concept that feels particularly resonant given the band's origin story – Harrison formed Takeda in 2022 after escaping a rural English cult, channeling that experience into what he calls "folk songs and melodies tied together with heavy guitar parts, thumping rhythms and huge choruses."
'Reynardine' captures Takeda's self-proclaimed identity as "the loudest acoustic guitar on Earth" without sacrificing the melodic sensibilities that make their approach so compelling. There's something of Ben Howard's intricate musicality here, Pearl Jam's driving energy, even hints of Fleetwood Mac's atmospheric depth – but the combination feels distinctly their own.
With a UK tour planned for September 2025 and an album that promises to explore "mystical figures from folklore and biblical metaphors," Takeda are positioning themselves as something rare: a band that can make ancient stories feel urgently contemporary.
If 'Reynardine' is any indication of what's to come on 'In Venus' Train', expect music that sounds like Nick Drake joining Pile – melodic and heartfelt, yet intense and gritty enough to justify their bold claims about volume and impact.
Stream the new single below
